94. Try calculating total disability ratings using the following 2 examples:

Veteran #1 has:Bronchial Asthma: 30 %Hep C: 20%Seborrheic Dermatitis: 10 %Hypertension: 10%Mild Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: 10% Lower Back Pain: 10% Retention Cyst Maxillary Sinus: 0%ANSWER: 60% Veteran #2 has:70% PTSD30% Muscle injury20% Shoulder muscle injury20% Chest muscle impairment0% Facial scars0% Scars0% Bilateral hearing lossANSWER: 90%Here is a third example: A veteran has 50% SC disability. He expects to get another 30% secondary SC. Does that equal 70% in VA math? Answer: It depends. 38 CFR 4.25 requires that you need to know the highest level award, since that is the starting point in VA math. If the 30% is the highest award, then it counts for the full thirty percent. However, if the 50% is the highest award, then you get 50+15=65 rounded up to 70%. HOWEVER:If 40% was the highest award then it would be 40+18+4=62 (rounded to 60%).If 30% was the highest award, and he had another 30% already then it would be 30+21+15=66% (rounded to 70%).

As you can see, it really matters WHAT the value of the other awards are. VA Math is a matter of ‘combining’ percentages under 38 CFR para 4.25-26. You can find the regulation here: http://ecfr.gpoacces...0.1.1.5&idno=38